Trails

Lost Lake Trails

Difficulty Level: Physically easy to moderate/ Technically easy to moderate.

Self Sufficiency: Low. - Season: Mid-April through November.

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Synopsis: Though they were designed primarily as x-country ski trails, the Lost Lake trails are the most common destination for riders new to the Whistler area, and with good reason. The sight of many of the local "Loonie Races", these trails are very close to town, easy to find, and offer a wide range of riding. The trails are marked as easy, intermediate and expert (green circle, blue square and black diamond) for the skiers, so this will give you some idea of the steepness of the trails, but not of the technical difficulty. Most of the marked trails follow the beds of old logging roads, and there are, for the adventurous, several technical single-track horse trails that criss-cross the area.

Note: As there is no parking at Lost Lake Park, on summer weekends the main 'Lost Lake Loop' can be a zoo, clogged with hikers and wobbly folks on rental bikes making their way to the beach. Use caution!

Trailhead Access: The Lost Lake Trails can be accessed from several locations around the Village. Between the original Village and the Upper Village (Blackcomb) lies the large skier parking lots. From the far corner of these lots, beside the skateboard park, the main Lost Lake trail begins. The trails can also be accessed from the intersection on Blackcomb Way and Lorimer Rd., across from the medical centre in Village North (confused by all these villages yet?).

The Ride: Ride down the main trail a short distance and you will pass under Lorimer Rd., and then over a bridge to find yourself in a meadow with a small log building and trails heading in all directions. To ride farther into the Lost Lake Trails simply stay to the left of the building and continue riding. This main road will lead right to Lost Lake, and as you ride several more trails, such as Centennial and Panorama, will branch to your left. Head up any of these and even more, like Vimy Ridge, will open up. In addition, unmarked single-tracks, known locally by incredibly imaginative names like 'Horse Trails' and 'No Horses', provide connections between the major trails. The main trail loops around Lost Lake, which has a nice beach, as well as a system of docks on the north shore for those who prefer a more Bohemian swimming experience. All of the trails rejoin under the power lines, and from here riders have the choice of returning to Whistler Village via a different route, or continuing on the Valley Trail to Green Lake.

The far end of this trail system also joins the Green Lake trail.